Liposuction – How it Works and What to Expect
Liposuction may be recommended by your physician as an effective means to reshape specific parts of the body that are resistant to diet and exercise, or as part of other surgeries. It can also be done simultaneously.
Under local anesthesia, this process is performed to minimize pain and discomfort that may require post-procedure medication management. A small drainage tube may also be installed to facilitate healing while preventing fluid build-up and fluid retention.
What Is Liposuction?
Liposuction is a cosmetic surgery procedure used to help alter body contour. This technique removes fat that resists diet and exercise, specifically around thighs, hips, abdomen and arms. Liposuction may also be used to change neck, knees, chin and ankle shape.
Liposuction involves extracting small pockets of fat through tiny incisions in the body. Usually performed under local anesthesia numbing only the area being treated, this procedure may also require general anesthesia in larger volumes or for other medical reasons.
Follow your doctor’s post-procedure instructions for an efficient recovery. While resting as much as possible for the first week following surgery is important, daily walks or other light exercises to increase circulation and decrease swelling are beneficial in speeding healing time.
How Does Liposuction Work?
Liposuction is designed for people in their healthy weight range who have localised pockets of fat that do not respond to diet or exercise, such as localised flab. Liposuction slims and reshapes these areas, creating better contours and improving proportion.
There are various techniques for liposuction, all involving incisions in the skin and suctioning out unwanted fat deposits. Your surgeon will discuss all available options with you in detail as well as address any concerns or queries that you might have.
After liposuction surgery, it is vital to rest well for at least two weeks post-surgery and take it easy in the immediate postoperative period. Light exercise should begin as soon as you feel capable but more strenuous activities should wait until approved by Dr. Aghayan. Regular movement helps reduce swelling, speed up healing time and avoid blood clot formation – friends or family can offer assistance with household chores or running errands in these critical days post surgery.
What Can I Expect From Liposuction?
Within days after surgery, you may experience some discomfort such as pain and swelling that varies depending on each individual patient. These side effects can often be managed with over-the-counter or prescription pain medications.
Swelling can be reduced by wearing your compression garment day and night, applying an ice pack, staying hydrated with water, and not engaging in strenuous activity until instructed by your physician.
Your surgeon may place small drains near the surgical site to prevent fluid accumulation and aid healing, typically taking effect about one week post surgery and eventually being removed by their own.
Liposuction permanently alters your body shape, but to keep results long-term you must also maintain a healthy weight by engaging in enough physical activity and eating well-balanced meals to support weight loss goals. Following an exercise and diet regime will ensure long-term success of this weight loss solution.
How Long Will Liposuction Take?
Liposuction generally lasts one to three hours depending on the area treated and amount of fat removed, but preoperative and postoperative procedures could extend this to full day-long visits to clinic.
Before surgery, patients are asked to provide their health history and undergo several routine tests in order to ensure they’re suitable for surgery. Patients must also discontinue certain medications including aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and the contraceptive pill.
Due to liposuction’s minimally invasive nature, recovery should be relatively swift, with most patients returning to normal activities within days. You may experience some bruising, swelling and discomfort which can be managed with medication. As fat cells that were removed through liposuction will no longer accumulate under your skin in different places over time, its results should last long-term, provided you maintain a healthy diet and exercise program; new fat accumulation could still happen though so keeping track of weight is still vitally important.
